Process of and apparatus for rolling iron rods.



H. FRASGH, DBCD.

B. YRASGH & I, P, WHITON, EXBGUTRICES.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR ROLLING IRON RODS.

APPLICATION FlLBD JUNE 11, 1897.

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H. FRASCH, DEO'D. B, PRASOH 6; I. I. WHITON, EXEGUTRIGES. PROCESS OF ANDAPPARATUS FOR ROLLING IRON RODS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNB1l,l897- 1,1 18,275. Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

4 166 4262i J2 2 67! for.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN FRASCH, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO; ELIZABETH FRASCH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

AND FR-IEDA F. WHITON, 0F HEMPSTEAID, NEW YORK, EXECUTRICES OF SAID HEB-MAN FBASCH. DECEASED.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR ROLLING IRON RODS.

Application filed June 11, 1897.

To all ic/wm it may concern lle it known that I, I'IERHAN FRASCII, acitizen of the United States, residing at (.leveland. in the county ofCuyahoga and State of Ohio. have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Processes of and Apparatus for Rolling Iron Rods: and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full. clear. and exactdescription of the invention.

This invention relates more particularly to the prevention of scale inrolling red hot iron or steel. as in making rods from billets; butsolne'of the improvements may admit. of other applications; and each ofthem is intended to be secured for all the uses to which it may beadapted.

ln rolling iron rods. the hot billet is run through rolls, for reducingit in diameter aiid elongating it. so as to form a rod of the desireddiameter; and as ordinarily conducted, the rod in process of formationis so exposed to air and water (in a liquid state or as vapor) as tobecome coated with a scale. which has to be removed by the aid of acid.This s ale formation not only increases the work to he done on the rod;but it results in a considerable loss of iron or steel originally in thebillet.

In accordance with the present invention the highly heated metal duringthe rolling operation. is kept dry (ordinarily it comes in contact withthe water which is poured over the rolls to cool them); and the metalparticles as they are brought to the surface in the successivereductions and consequent clougations or spreadings of the billet orpartly formed rod, as well as during the intervals between the reducingoperations, are protected by inclosure in a non-oxidating atmosphere.When the rolling is finished the rod or other metal article is still attoo high a temperature to bear exposure, either to air or water. withoutundergoing surface oxidation; it is, therefore, according to the presentinvention, cooled in a non-oxidating medium.

To carry out this process use is made of a continuous rolling mill, thatis to say of a rolling mill which is composed of one or more trains ofrolls with means for mechanically conducting the rod (or other article)from pass to pass. so that personal handling by workmen is not required.In such a con- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

Serial No. 840,366.

tinuous mill, the passes (or more advantageously the entire groovesincluding the passes), as well as the spaces from each pass to the next,are inclosed in a chamber which is filled with an atmosphere free fromuncomhined oxygen and from such oxygen com iounds as. like water, aredecomposed by red hot iron.

To avoid drenching the rolls with water. these are made hollow and a eprovided with an interior water circulation or with other means forkeeping them cool from the inside.

For cooling the rolled article without surface oxidation annon-oxidizing cooler is is provided which may be a. bath of nonoxidizingliquid such as oil, or a chamber which is cooled by a circulation ofwater or by other cooling medium in its walls or in closed pipestherein, or a chamber filled with a cold non-oxidizing atmosphere, orthe like.

To keep the air from entering the protecting chamber of the contlnuousmill while avoiding waste, the non-oxidizing atmosphere thereof is putunder a pressure which almost exactly balances, preferably being veryslightly over rather than under, the outside atmospheric pressure. Thiscan be effected by connecting with the protecting chamber a reservoir ofthe n0n0xidizing gas, and providing means for supplying the gas to thesaid chamber as the pressure begins to fall below that of the outsideatmosphere.

In carrying out the foregoing improvements any suitable gas or gases maybe used to form the atmosphere enveloping the hot iron in process ofrolling and cooling, provided of course such gas or gases aresufficiently free from uncomhined oxygen and decomposable oxygencompounds to produce an industrial result. There are, however, specialadvantages in usin combustion gases from a coke or other suitable fire,because said gases are not combustible and can be readily and cheaplyproduced in unlimited quantities.

Combustion gases, when produced simply by passage of air through a cokefire. are apt to contain uncomhined oxygen; and while the percentage ofthis may not be sufficient to prevent an industrial result, it issufficient to make desirable a more perfect freedom from uncomhinedoxygen. To eflect its more complete removal, a combustible gas or vaporsuch as hydrogen or a volatilized hydrocarbon is mingled with the air,as for example by carbureting the latter, on its way to thegas-producer.

As the result of the reaction in the coke, the oxygen of the air iscombined, in part directly with the carbon of the incandescent coke orof the hydrocarbon, in part indirectly with carbon by first uniting (itis believed) with the hydrogen of the hydrocarbon to form water which isthen decomposed, thereby giving uncombined hydroen. At any rate, theresult of the reaction is a mixture of nitrogen, carbonic oxid anddioxid and uncombined hydrogen, with practically no oxygen or water. Thepres ence of the unconibined hydrogen in this atmosphere tends tocounteract the oxidation of the iron of the rod or billet; and with thisobject it might be introduced into the gases from the producer as wellas into the air on its way thereto.

It is evident that a non-oxidizing atmosphere, from combustion gasesprepared as described, could be used to protect hot metal not only inreduction by rolling but in other relations. The invention extends totheir preparation for and use in forming a protecting atmosphere for hotmetal while being rolled and in other relations. The use of anon-oxidizing atmosphere composed mainly of nitrogen with a smallerproportion of carbonic oxid and dioxid (either or both) and uncombinedhydrogen, is also included in the invention. Some steam could be passedwith the air through the incandescent coke.

The percentage of water vapor in combustion gases would (as said before)be insignificant; but, for further assurance, or where the gases containmoisture as the result of a cleansing operation or otherwise, they maybe dried by passage through or over sulfuric acid or calcium chlorid orother dehydrating agent before admission to the chamber surrounding thereducing rolls.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification,Figure l is a diagram in plan view, partly in section, showinganti-scale rod-rolling apparatus in accordance with the invention. Fig.2 is a diagram of the apparatus for generating the non-oxidizingatmosphere, partly in section on line i 2' of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is :1diagram of the rolling mill in section on line i z' i of Fig. 1, Figs.4, 5 and 6 are partial views illustrating somewhat differentarrangements, also within the invention, and Fig. 7 is a detail viewillustratin in longitudinal section a portion of one o the internallycooled rolls.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3 there are two trains of rolls A and Brespectively, with tubular rod guides A or B between adjacent pairs ofrolls of the same train and a platform guide A between the trains. Therolls as shown are driven at accelerated speed; and the platform A alsoaccommodates the overfeed of the rod by allowing it to form a loop ofgreater or less length on said platform. For driving the rolls bevelgears 2, shafts 3 underlying the rolls, and spur gears 4 are shown, butany suitable gearing may be used. It is also to be observed that whathas been thus far described is simply by way of illustrating acontinuous rolling mill, that such mill has of itself no essentialnovelty and that it may (within the limits of the invention) be replacedby other known or suitable forms of continuous mill or by other likeapparatus. The rolls A B are hollow and are provided with means forcooling them internally, which means may be of any suitable description,but are shown as being composed of a cold water pipe C with branches Cleading well into the rolls, (see Fig. 7) and a return pipe D withbranches D leading from the ends of the cavities, the branches passingthrough suitable stuffing boxes E.

Inclosing the trains of rolls A Dare walls F forming a chambersufiiciently gas-tight to confine a non-oxidizing atmosphere therein. Asshown in Figs. 4 and 5 this chamber is formed by walls F in conjunctionwith the walls of guides A between the rolls A and the housings A* ofsaid rolls. Of course the housings of the rolls could be used as a partof the walls of the inclosing chamber independently of the walls of therod guides and conversely the walls of said guides might form part ofthe Walls of a. protecting chamber in conjunction with other walls whichmight be independent of the roll housings.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the gears for the rolls, as also the water-pipes U Dand the stufling boxes E, are outside of the protecting chamber; andthis arrangement has advantages irrespective of the use of the rollhousings and rod guides (either or both) as part of the chamber walls.In Figs. 4 and 5 also the protecting chamber is contracted betweenadjacent pairs of rolls; thereby saving space both inside and outside,and allowing readier access to the rod. Such a contraction could be madeWithout utilizing the roll housings or the walls of the rod guides as aportion of the chamber walls.

In all the forms the protecting chamber incloses the grooves, includingthe passes, of the rolls, as well as the spaces (occupied by the rodguides A A." B) from one pass to the next.

As the rod leaves the last roll of the mill, it is still so hot that itwould be oxidized by contact with air or water. To cool it withoutoxidation, it is received by a holder G (shown as a long pipe)surrounded b a jacket ll to which water or other cooling medium issupplied by means of branches H of the mains C D or from other suitablesource; or as shown in Fig. 6, it may (without coming in contact withair) be immersed in a bath H of oil. As shown in this figure there is aguide pipe leading from chamber F down below the level of the coil, andthere are guide rollers 5 under the oil. The oil bath or the coolingjacket could be placed within the chamber F instead of outside of it.

The gas-producing apparatus shown at the top of Fig. 1 and in Fig. 2 isfor supplying a nonoxidizing atmosphere to the chamber F. It consists ofan air blower or fan K which delivers air to the combustion chamber ofan air-gas-producer K a portion being diverted on its way through thecarbureting vessel K which contains petroleum naphtha or other suitablehydrocarbon. The combustion gases then pass through a purifyingapparatus of any suitable description. such for example as a condenser Land scrubber L of the kind com mon in gas works to the gas holder M.From this a pipe 6 conducts it into the chamber F. All the air might bepassed through the carburcter K" (which may be of any suitableconstruction) but it is preferred to carburet only to a slight extent.By closing the valve 7 in the by-pass around the carbureter. more orless, a greater or less proportion of the air will be forced through thecarburcter.

The operation is as follows :The red hot billet is introduced throughthe end wall of the protecting chamber to the pass between the firstpair of reducing rolls A and thence it goes successively from pass topass. being guided mechanically by the rod guiders A A" B. As the rollsA B are cooled internally, the metal remains dry during its passagethrough the mill. At each reduction the metal is spread laterally orlongitudinally or both. so that new surfaces of metal are therebyexposed to the atmosphere in the chamber F. To prevent the formation ofscale at this time as well as in the intervals between reductions, whilethe rod is traveling through the guides A A" B from each pair of rollsto the next. the enveloping atmosphere is made of a non-oxidizingcharacter.

Such an atmosphere is furnished by the air-gas from the producer K, theair which is supplied by the fan K, after said air has been mingled Withhydrocarbon vapor by passing a portion thereof through the carbureterK", being brought in contact With incandescent carbon in the saidproducer K. Thus a non-oxidizing gas mixture is ob tained consistingmainly of nitrogen with smaller proportions oi carbonic oxid and dioxidand of hydrogen. This mixture after leaving the condenser l and scrubberL is delivered to the gasometer M to be taken thence as required to theprotecting chamber F.

In order to prevent air from entering this chamber F. the gas therein issubjected to pressure. by suitably loading or counterbalancing the bellof the gas holder M, so that the barometric pressure within the chamberbalances or very slightly overbalances that of the atmosphere outside ofsaid chamber.

The rod from the last roll B, is cooled to a non-oxidizing temperaturewhile still kept out of contact with uncombined oxygen and decomposableoxygen compounds, such as water. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3. the coolingwould be effected by the water circulating in the jacket H of the pipe G(Whose interior is occupied by a non-oxidizing atmophere). As shown inFig. 6, it is cooled by direct immersion in a bath of a non-oxidizingliquid, such as oil.

In consequence of an official requirement to divide the application forthe present patent. a divisional application has been filed. to wit. onSeptember 28, 1914-, No. 863,969. for the herein above disclosedimprovements in the manufacture of gases and gaseous atmospheres ofnon-oxidizing character.

I claim as my invention or discovery:

1. The improvement in hot-rolling iron or steel consisting in subjectingthe highly heated iron or steel in a dry state to successive reducingoperations, and protecting the freshly exposed iron or steel surfaces byan atmosphere free from uncombined oxygen and from oxygen compoundswhich are decomposable like water by highly heated iron or steel. theprotection by said atmosphere being continued as well during theintervals between reductions as While the iron or steel is undergoingthe reducing operations. substantially as described.

2. The improvement in hotrolling iron or steel. consisting in subjectingthe highly heated iron or steel in a dry state to suecessive reducingoperations. protecting the freshly exposed iron or steel surfaces by anatmosphere free from uncombined oxygen and from oxvgen compounds whichare decomposable like water by highly heated iron or steel. and coolingthe reduced metal under the protection of a non-oxidating medium. theiron or steel being protected by the aforesaid atmosphere as well duringthe intervals between reductions as while the iron or steel isundergoing the reduc' ing operations. substantially as described. 3. Theimprovement in hot-rolling iron or steel, consisting in subjecting thehighly heated iron or steel in a dry state to successive reducingoperations, and protectin the freshly exposed iron or steel surfaces y anon-combustible atmosphere free from uncombined oxygen and from oxygencomounds which are decomposable like water y highly heated iron orsteel, the protection by said atmosphere being continued as well duringthe intervals between reductions as' while the iron or steel isundergoing the reducing operations, substantially as described.

4. The improvement in protecting hot metal from oxidation, consisting inenveloping the same in a non-oxidizing atmosphere having the compositionand properties of the gaseous products from passingair mingled with acombustible hydrogen-containing gas or vapor in contact withincandescent carbon, substantially as described.

5. The improvement in protecting hot metal from oxidation, consisting inenvelop ing the same in a non-oxidizing atmosphere having thecomposition and properties of the gaseous products from passing airmingled with hydrocarbon vapor in contact with incandescent carbon,substantially as described.

6. The improvement in hot rolling iron or steel, consisting insubjecting the highly heated iron or steel in a dry state to successivereducing operations, and by means of a non-oxidizing atmosphere havingthe composition and properties of the gaseous products from passing airmingled with a combustible hydrogen-containing gas or vapor in contactwith incandescent carbon, protecting the metal surfaces as they arefreshly ex posed by the said reducing operations and during theintervals between reductions, substantially as described.

7. The improvement in hot rolling iron or steel, consisting insubjecting the highly heated iron or steel in a dry state to suecessivereducing operations, and by means of a non-oxidizing atmosphere havingthe composition and properties of the gaseous products from passing airmingled with hydrocarbon vapor in contact with incandes rent carbon,protecting the metal surfaces as they are freshly exposed by the saidreducing operations and during the intervals be tween reductions.substantially as described.

The improvement in hot rolling iron or steel. consisting in subjectingthe same highly heated in a dry state to successive reducing operations.and by means of a nonoxidizing atmosphere composed mainly of nitrogenwith smaller proportions of carbonic oxid and dioxid and unconibinedhydrogen protecting the metal surfaces as they are freshly exposed bythe said reducing operations and during the intervals betweenreductions, substantially as described.

9. The improvement in protecting hot metal from oxidation, consisting indeveloping the same in a non-oxidizing atmosphere composed mainly ofnitrogen with smaller proportions of carbonic oxid and dioxid anduncoinbined hydrogen, substantially as described.

10. The improvement in hot-rolling iron or steel, consisting insubjecting the highly heated iron or steel in a dry state to successivereducing operations, and protecting the freshly exposed iron or steelsurfaces by an atmosphere of air from which with the aid of carbon freeoxygen has been eliminated, substantially as described.

11. The improvement in hot rolling iron or steel, consisting insubjecting the highly heated iron or steel in a dry state to successivereducing operations, and protecting the freshly exposed iron or steelsurfaces by an atmosphere ofair from which free oxygen has beeneliminated, the last portions of free oxygen having been eliminated byadmixture of a small proportion of combustible gas or Vapor and exposureof the mixture to an elevated temperature, substantially as described.

12. The improvement in hot-rolling iron or steel consisting insubjecting the highly heated iron or steel in a dry state to successivereducing operations by surfaces cooled artificially by conduction froman inclosed cooling medium, and protecting the freshly exposed iron orsteel surfaces by an atmosphere free from uncombined oxygen and fromoxygen compounds which are decomposable like water by highly heated ironor steel, the protection by said atmosphere being continued as wellduring the intervals between reductions as while the iron or steel isundergoing the reducing operations, substantially as described.

13. The improvement in hot-rolling iron or steel, consisting insubjecting the highly heated iron or steel in a dry state to successivereducing operations by surfaces cooled artificially by conduction froman inclosed cooling medium, and protecting the freshly exposed iron orsteel surfaces by a non-combustible atmosphere free from uncombinedoxygen and from oxygen compounds which are decomposable like water byhighly heated iron or steel, the protection by said atmosphere beingcontinued as well during the intervals between reductions as while theiron or steel is undergoing the reducing operations. substantially asdescribed.

1i. The improvement in hot rolling iron or steel. consisting insubjecting the highly heated iron or steel in a dry state to suecessivereducing operations, protecting the iron or steel in process ofreduction by a medium less oxidating than the ordinary air of rollingmills, and cooling the rolled iron or steel under the protection of sucha medium by means of coolin fluid inclosed within heat conducting wal s,substantlally as described.

15. The improvement in hot rolling iron or steel, consisting insubjecting the highly heated iron or steel in a dry state to suecessivereducing o erations, and protecting the freshly expose iron or steelsurfaces by a non-combustible atmosphere of air from which free oxygenhas been eliminated b the aid of carbon, substantially as describe 16.Apparatus for hot rolling iron or steel, comprising metal rolling meanswhereby the highl heated iron or steel can be subjected in a ry state tosuccessive reducin operations, as supplying means where y aeriform uidfree from uncombined oxygen and from oxygen com ounds which aredecomposable like water liy highly heated iron or steel can be suppliedin appro riate volume to form a protecting atmosp ere within theapparatus, and as retaining means whereby such aeriform uid can beretained in contact with the iron or steel, said means of the severalkinds mentioned bein combined and arranged for protecting t e iron orsteel by said atmosphere as well during the intervals between reductionsas while the iron or steel is undergoing the reducing operations,substantially as described.

17. A paratus for hot rolling iron or steel, com ris ng metal rollingmeans whereby the big heated iron or steel can be subjected in a rystate to successive reducing o erations, gas supplying means wherebyaeri orm fluid tree from uncombined oxygen and from oxygen compounckwhich are decomposab e like water by highly heated iron or steel can besupplied in appropriate volume to form aprotecting atmosphere within thea aratus, gas retaining means whereby sue aeriform fluid can be retainedin contact with the iron or steel, and metal cooling means whereby thereduced metal can be cooled under protection of a non-oxidizing medium,said means of the several kinds mentioned being combined and arrangedfor protecting the iron or steel by said atmosphere as well during theintervals between reductions as while the iron or steel isundergoinglthe reducing operations, and also during t a subsequentcooling, substantially as described.

18! Apparatus for hot rolling HOll or steel, comprisin metal rollingmeans whereby the eated iron or can be subjected in a dry state tosuccess1ve h educing operations, gas supplying means ereby non-co 'bleaeriform flmdpfree from unconibined oxy en and from oxygen comoundswhichare ecomposable likel'water By highly heated iron or steel canbe supplied in appropriate volume to form a protecting atmosphere withinthe apparatus,

and gas retaining means whereby such aeriform fluid can be retained incontact with the iron or steel, said means of the several kindsmentioned being combined and ar ranged for protecting the iron or steelby said atmosphere as well during the intervals between reductions aswhile the iron or steel is undergoing the reducing operations,substantially as described.

19. Apparatus for protecting hot metal from oxidation, comprising metalholding means whereby thehot metal can be supported, gas supplying meanswhereby aeriform fluid having the composition an properties of thegaseous products from assing air mingled with a combustible hyrogencontaining gas or vapor in contact with incandescent carbon can besupplied in appropriate -volume to form a protecting atmosphere withinthe a paratus, and gas retaining means wherdby such aeriform fluid canbe retained in contact with hot metal, said means of the several kindsmentioned being ing the hot metal in said protecting atmos: phere,substantiall as described.

20. Apparatus or protecting hot metal from oxidation, comprising metalholding means whereby the hot metal can be sup ported, gas supplyingmeans whereby aeriform fluid having the COIIPOSitlOD an properties ofthe gaseous pro note from passing air mingled with hydrocarbon vapor incontact with incandescent carbon can be sup plied in appropriate volumeto form a prohere within the apparatus,

tecting atmosp and gas retaining means whereby such aeriform fluid canbe retained in contact with hot metal, said means of the several kindsmentioned being combined and arranged for enveloping the hot metal inprotecting atmosphere, substantially as described. 7

21. Apparatus for hot iron or comlprismg metal rolling means whereby thehig heated iron or steel canbg siibjeeted in a ry state to successiveredu operations, gas sup lying means .wh aeriform fluid having theCOHIIiPOSitiOH an properties of the gaseous pro nets assing. air mingledwith a combustible containing gas or vapor in contact withincandescentcarbon can be supplied in appropriate volume to form a protecting.atmpsphere within the apparatus, and' gas retainmg means whereby such asarm lipid can be retained in contact wit the! iron or steel, said meansof the several lnndsmentioned be' combined and arranged'for rotectin the11'01'1: or steel by said atmosp era as we duringthe intervals betweenreductions as while the iron 'or steel the reducing operations,substantially as de- 22. Apparatus for hot rollingf ifoitor comprisingmetal rolling means whereby the highl heated iron or steel can besubjected in a ry state to successive reducing operations, gas supplyingmeans whereby aeriform fluid having the composition and properties ofthe gaseous products from passing air mingled with hydrocarbon vapor incontact with incandescent carbon can be supplied in appropriate volumeto form a pro tecting atmosphere within the apparatus, and gas retainingmeans whereby such aeriform fluid can be retained in contact with theiron or steel, said means of the several kinds mentioned being combinedand arranged for protecting the iron or steel by said atmosphere as wellduring the intervals between reductions as while the iron or steel isundergoing the reducing operations, substantiall as described.

23. Apparatus or hot rolling iron or steel, comprising metal rollingmeans whereby the highl heated iron or steel can be subjected in a rystate to successive reducing operations, as supplying means wherebyaeriform uid consisting mainly of nltrogen 'with smaller proportions ofcarbonic oxid and dioxid and uncombined hydrogen can be supplied inappropriate volume to form a protecting atmosphere within the apparatusand gas retaining means whereby such aeriform fluid can be retained incontact with the iron or steel, said means of the several kindsmentioned being combined and arran ed for protecting the iron or steelby sai atmosphere as well during the inter vals' between reductions aswhile the iron or steel is undergoing the reducing operations,substantially as described.

24'. Apparatus for protecting hot metal from oxidation, comprising metalholding means whereby the hot metal can be supported, gas supplyingmeans whereby aeriform fluid consistlng mainly of nitrogen with smallerroportions of carbonic oxid and di oxid and uncoinbined h drogen can besupplied in appropriate v0 ume to form a protecting atmosp ere withinthe apparatus, and

as retaining means whereby such aeriform duid can be retained in contactwith hot metal said means of the several kinds mentione "bein combinedand arranged for enveloping t e hot metal in said rotecting atmosphere,substantially as described.

25.v Apparatus for hot rolling iron or steel, comprisin metal rollingmeans whereby the h1ghly eated iron or steel can be subjected in a drystate to successive reducing operations, gas supplyin means wherebyairfrom whic with the a1 of carbon free oxygen has been eliminated canbe supplied in appropriate volume to form a protecting atmosphere withinthe apparatus, and gas r tainmg means, whereby such aeriform iiid canberetained in contact with the iron or steel, daid means of the severalkinds mentioned being combined and arranged for protecting the freshlyexposed iron or steel surfaces by said atmosphere, substantially asdescribed.

26. Apparatus for hot rolling iron or steel, comprising metal rollingmeans whereby the highly heated iron or steel can be subjected in a drystate to successive reducing operations, gas su plying means whereby airfrom which ree oxygen has been eliminated can be supplied in appropriatevolume to form at protecting atmosphere within the apparatus, the lastportions of free oxygen being eliminated by admixture of a smallproportion of combustible gas or vapor and exposure of the mixture to anelevated temperature, and gas retaining means whereby such aeriformfluid can be retained in contact with the iron or steel, said means ofthe several kinds mentioned bein combined and arranged for protectingthe freshly exposed iron or steel surfaces b said atmosphere,substantially as describe 27. Apparatus for hot rolling iron or steel,comprising metal rolling means which include reducing rolls withsurfaces cooled artificially by conduction from an inclosed coolingmedium, gas supplying means whereby aeriform fluid free from uncombinedoxygen and from oxygen compounds which are decomposable like water byhighly heated iron or steel can be supplied in appropriate volume toform a protecting atmosphere within the apparatus, and gas retainingmeans whereby such aeriform fluid can be retained in contact with theiron or steel, said means of the several kinds mentioned being combinedand arranged for protecting the iron or steel by said atmosphere as wellduring the intervals between reductions as while the iron or steel isundergoing the reducing operations, substantially as described.

28. Apparatus for hot rolling iron or steel, comprising metal rollingmeans which include reducing rolls with surfaces cooled artificially byconduction from an inclosed cooling medium, gas supplying means wherebynon-combustible aeriform fluid free from uncombined oxygen and fromoxygen compounds which are decomposable like water by highly heated ironor steel can be supplied 1n appropriate volume to form a protectingatmosphere within the apparatus, and gas retaining means whereby suchaeriform fluid can be retained in contact with the iron or steel, saidmeans of the several kinds mentioned bein combined and arranged forprotectingt eiron or steel by said atmosphere as well during theintervals between reductions as while the iron or steel is undergoingthe reducing operations, substantially as described.

29. Apparatus for hot rolling iron or steel, comprising metal rollingmeans Whereby the highly heated iron or steel can be subjected in a drystate to successive reduc ing operations, gas supplying means wherebyaeriform fluid less oxidizing than the ordinary air of rolling mills canbe supplied in appropriate volume to form a protecting atmosphere withinthe apparatus, cooling means whereby the rolled iron or steel can becooled under protection of a non-oxidizing medium. and gas retainingmeans Whereby such aeriform fluid can be retained in contact with theiron or steel, said means of the several kinds mentioned being combinedand arranged for protecting by said atmosphere the iron or steel inprocess of reduction and also the rolled iron or steel during thesubsequent cooling, substantially as described.

30. Apparatus for hot rolling iron or steel, comprising metal rollingmeans Where by the highly heated iron or steel can be subjected in a drystate to successive reducing operations, gas supplying means wherebynon-combustible aeriform fluid consisting of air from which free oxygenhas been eliminated by the aid of carbon can be supplied in appropriatevolume to form a protecting atmosphere within the apparatus, and gasretaining means whereby such aeriform fluid can be retained in contactwith the iron or steel, said means of the several kinds mentioned beingcombined and arranged for protecting the freshly exposed a iron or steelsurfaces by said atmosphere, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my sign ture, in presence of two Witnesses.

HERMAN FRASCH.

\Vitnesses:

T. W. LOTHMAN, J. C. UPDEGROVE.

29. Apparatus for hot rolling iron or steel, comprising metal rollingmeans whereby the highly heated iron or steel can be subjected in a drystate to successive reducing operations, gas supplying means Wherebyaeriform fluid less oxidizing than the ordinary air of rolling mills canbe supplied in appropriate volume to form a protecting atmosphere Withinthe apparatus, cooling means whereby the rolled iron or steel can becooled under protection of a non oxidizing medium, and gas retainingmeans Whereby such aeriform fluid can be retained in contact with theiron or steel, said means of the several kinds mentioned being combinedand arranged for protecting by said atmosphere the iron or steel inprocess of reduction and also the rolled iron or steel during thesubsequent cooling, substantially as described.

30. Apparatus for hot rolling iron or steel, comprising metal rollingmeans Where- 24, 1914, upon the application of the case in the PatentOfiice.

[SEAL the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Pagearticle an read a, page 3, line 10, for the word 65-66, for the worddeveloping read enveloping,"

by the highly heated iron or steel can be subjected in a dry state tosuccessive reducing operations, gas supplying means wherebynon-combustible aeriform fluid consisting of air from which free oxygenhas been eliminated by the aid of carbon can be supplied in appropriatevolume to form a protecting atmosphere Within the apparatus, and gasretaining means whereby such aeriform fluid can be retained in contactwith the iron or steel, said means of the several kinds mentioned beingcombined and arranged for protecting the freshly exposed iron or steelsurfaces by said atmosphere, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signa-- ture, in presence of twoWitnesses.

HERMAN FRASGH.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,118,275, grantedNovember of Herman F rasch, of Cleveland, Ohio, for an improvement inProcesses of and Apparatus for Rolling Iron Rods, errors appear in 1,line 69, for the coil read oil; page 4, lines and that the said LettersPatent should be read with. these corrections therein that the same mayconform to the record Signed and sealed this 15th day of December, A.D., 1914.

J. T. NEWTON,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

It is hereby certified that in Letters PetentNo. 1,118,275, grantedNovember 24, 1914, upon the application of Herman Frasch, of Cleveland,Ohio, for an improvement in Processes of and Apparatus for Rolling IronRods, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction asfollows: Page 1, line 69, for the article an read a; page 3 line 10, forthe word coil read oil; page4, lines 65-66, for the word developing reedenveloping; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with thesecorrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the casein the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of December, A. D., 1914.

J. T. NEWTON,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

[emi

